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Evatt On Handling Expectations

Defender Discusses Added Pressure

Ian Evatt admits that The Seasiders are getting to grips with the expectation that now surrounds the team and hope to deal with it in the right manner.

The defender has been part of many a Blackpool side considered as an underdog in previous seasons, yet this time around the tag of 'favourites' is used a lot more.

Just three points off the top of the table, Evatt has emphasised that every result has to be put into perspective over the course of a 46-game season.

"The level of expectation has been high for us. You can't win every game and we've got to learn that, especially in this division," he said. "No team goes on massive runs winning game after game, you just have to take your defeats when you get them and make sure that you learn from them and move on. I think that's what we did at Hull and it was a fantastic result."

The main cause of concern for the 30-year-old at the moment has been the goals that The Seasiders have conceded in recent weeks, having let in only one goal from the first three league fixtures.

"It's been very frustrating. We started excellently at Millwall and we carried that run going, it's just been the last couple of games where everything that teams seem to hit against us goes in. I don't think teams have created chance after chance against us like in previous seasons, we're just going through a spell.

"We're still not defending badly as a a group. Defending starts from the front and all the lads are working hard on improving that aspect of our game."

The team host Charlton Athletic at Bloomfield Road tomorrow, with Evatt looking to stay on track for a promotion form average of two points a game.

"If you average nearly two points a game throughout the season then you end up getting promoted, and that's something we're looking at," he said. "If we finish up on 19 points after Saturday then we're almost there with two points every game. It's early days yet and we've got a long way to go but we'll just keep working hard, learn from our mistakes and see where it takes us."

The level of expectation has been high for us. You can't win every game and we've got to learn that, especially in this division."